154 BiCKXELi. on Hvlo.ichla al/cLc bickfielli. 



ami relieving the ruggedness ut" the slopes, northern plants were 

 growing in greater or less profusion. The Dwarf Cornel {Cor- 

 mts canadensis) grew in such close luxuriance in congenial spots, 

 that its snowv bracts imparted an almost uniform whiteness to 

 whole heds. With, or near it. blossomed the Wood vSorrel ( O.v- 

 alis acetosella) with delicately violet-veined petals, and the ap- 

 propriately-named Gold-thread ( Coptis trlfalla) of evanescent 

 bloom but shining evergreen lea\es, and the little Star Flower 

 i^Tr lent alls americana) were often also associates. Excepting 

 the pale \ellow bells of Clintoizia borealis^ and the purplish 

 tinge, or veining. of the blossoms of several other species, all the 

 plants noticed in bloom at this time upon the mountain bore 

 flowers of some shade of white. The more open ground about 

 our course along the ridge supported a luxuriant aiid graceful 

 growth of that lovelv fern Aspidinm spinttlositni. and with it, in 

 openings about the suminit, grew abundanth the Moimtain Gol- 

 den-rod {Sdlidago thyrsoidea) which, although \ et man\ weeks 

 from bloom, heralded a roval emblem to light the mountain's 

 brow ere the white locks of winter should again possess it. 



At the elevation where these plants hrst appeared the trees 

 nowhere attained more than a medium stature, those which 

 seemed ]>est to liave siu'mounted the difficulties of their situation, 

 the Balsam and the Paper Birch, never rising to a height of more 

 than, perhaps, twenty-five feet. This growth completely encom- 

 passed the range of vision, but an occasional scantiness in the 

 foliage permitted glimpses of surrounding mountains rolling off" 

 like huge green billows into the blue distance. 



From these evergreens came the leisiueh- call of the Canada 

 Nuthatch {Sitta ca?iadcnsis) . and on closer approach the low, 

 plaintive notes of the little Yellow-bellied Flycatcher {Emp/do- 

 nax Jiaviventris) . The brief warble of tlie Black-and-Yellow 

 Warbler i^Deiidroeca rnac/ilosa) told of the presence of its unseen 

 author in the surrounding trees, while among the undergrowth 

 the less frecjuent. but louder and more sustained song of the 

 Mourning Ground- warbler ( GcotJilypis Philadelphia) showed 

 that this species, which had been left at the foot of the uKJuntain, 

 had here reappeared. At intervals, faintly mingling with these 

 songs, from some hidden fastness below, came the fantasia of 

 the Winter Wren, a melody that seemed to pass from the spirit 

 of unclaimed nature, voicing some mvster\- of the mountains. 



